Representative Debbie Boyd partners with Chamber, Small Business Development Center to host Access to Capital Workshop

After coordinating the successful Small Business Resource Fair in September of last year, State Representative Debbie Boyd is once again bringing together a team of community partners to present a second Small Business Resource Fair.  This event, scheduled for June 22 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Lake City Community College’s Howard Conference Center, will focus on access to capital for small business owners.  “Strengthening the fundamental bond between lenders and business owners is critical to our economic recovery,” said Boyd.

Lending institutions from the area will have the opportunity to meet small business owners and share information on the services they have available.  Also planned is a series of panels designed to address all aspects of the business owner’s pressing need for capital.  These panels are:

Preparing to Access Capital for Your Business, with panelists Tiffany Reeves, Community Outreach Coordinator with the State of Florida’s Office of Financial Services; Sam Froio, Senior Stakeholder Liaison with the IRS Small Business/Self Employed Division and Anthony DiMarco, Executive Vice President with the Florida Bankers Association.

Traditional and Nontraditional Sources of Capital for Your Business, with panelists Joe Mueller, Program Director for the USDA Rural Development office; Peyton Woodard, Director of Capital Programs with Enterprise Florida; Ronald Johnson, Lender Relations Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Inez Long, Director of the Black Business Investment Fund, which has been tasked with administering the State of Florida’s Economic Gardening Program.

Alternative Methods of Financing Your Business Growth, with panelists

Robert Myers, Certified Business Analyst with the Florida Small Business Development Center; Linda Jennings with the Florida Economic Gardening Institute and Lloyd Adams with SCORE of Lake City.

Along with Representative Boyd, this event is being hosted by State Representative Leonard Bembry, the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida, Lake City Community College (soon to be Florida Gateway College), the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Lake City – Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce and the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce. 

There is no cost for the event, but sponsorships are still available.  For more information or to register, go to www.sbdc.unf.edu and click on Lake City Small Business Resource Fair in the “What’s New” section, or call 800-450-4624.